I was writing another post that I just saved and left. In the middle of my post, my Echo Show (Alexa) blurted out, “Message to Anna, Happy Birthday, Tom, Happy.” What? I did not set that to go off, and when I asked her who did this, she did not have an answer. I laughed and started talking to my daddy. Today is his birthday. We shared birthdays that were close. I’m October 22, and he is October 23. We would often celebrate with a dinner together. Sometimes with family, and sometimes just father-daughter time.

I began this out loud conversation with him. I truly could feel his spirit in the room, his presence. I had just read this week in my Bible study that “we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses,” those who have gone before us in the faith are cheering us on.

The conversation:

So you are happy, Daddy?

“Yes.”

“Thank you for being with me today. I love you.”

“I love you.”

“Why won’t Jesus return? It’s hard down here, Daddy.”

“It’s not time yet.”

“We toil so much down here. We are tired.”

“Anna, you are tired because you worry about things like I did. Don’t do that. It’ll kill you. Make you tired.”

“You are right. I need to let go.”

“Yes, let it go. It really is all about grace. Do you remember the book we read on spiritual warfare together? That fiction book?

“Yes.”

“It’s true. I can see the warfare from here, but also how God is in control, and how He is working all the things together. You’ll see one day. It’s beautiful, Anna.”

“I wish I could retire, Daddy. I’m tired. My mind is tired.”

“Hang in there. It’ll come. All things happen in time. Remember, let it go. Stop worrying.”

“You know, Daddy, you can visit me anytime. I watch these crazy movies where everything has to be perfect or weird, but can you just watch over us?

“Yes. And, Anna, spend time with Louise today. Tell her I love her.”

“Oh, Daddy, (weeping) she misses you, too. I will. I promise.”

“Did you know my songs are on the web now -go listen to them.”

So I did. And sure enough, there they were. Someone had taken the time to put Jimmie Davis’s songs on the internet. I commented on them and told them that my daddy wrote those songs. The first one I hit was “Heaven’s Avenue.” I let him know my daddy’s walking on “Heaven’s Avenue” right now. They also have “She Touched The Hem of His Garment” and “Soul Train to Glory.”

It’s so quiet in the house right now. I’m crying tears of love. I feel close to him and my faith. A sweet moment of peace and solitude.

“Go on living, Anna. Enjoy life.”

“It’s hard to move away from a moment like this.”

“God is in every moment.”

“Daddy, I love you. Life is so interesting. The events, stories, and the journey we had. I’m 60. Your youngest is 60. It just seems we do the best we can with the physical, emotional, and life experiences we’ve encountered. No one really fully understands the why of it all. We know that God is our anchor, and to love, forgive, trust, yet, it is so limiting to what we can fully understand until we get to heaven. I asked a bunch of people on my birthday yesterday what their favorite song was before they hit their teens. You learn a lot about people when you ask that question. Did you send that waitress to our table last night at the Melting Pot? When we asked her, she remembered her mom playing gospel music and how it influenced her in her faith. She goes to a local church, and she showed us a letter she wrote to her mom when she was about 8. She had a picture of it on her phone. She kept saying that it was meant to be that we would have her as a waitress. I’ve noticed that people are starving to feel heard and seen, even if you can’t relate to their stories, there is always something you connect to. Help them out. Just listen. “

“That’s important, Anna. Listen. Don’t judge. God’s got them.”

“Will you pray for our family? Pray they will see and feel the presence of God in their lives?”

“We’ve got that up here.”

(laughing) “Yes, you do. One of my favorite verses is the one where Jesus is praying for us to the Father.”

“What about this church thing, Anna?”

“I don’t know.”

(Private conversation; not wanting to type this.)

“I’ll think about it, Daddy.”

“You’ve got time. Slow down. You don’t have to always be in a rush, like you are running out of time.”

“I do that.”

“Yes, you do. Time is elusive to humans. Time belongs to God. He is timeless.”

“I closed my eyes, and I kissed you on the forehead. Your favorite. It’s my favorite, too. When my children touch my face and give a kiss on my forehead, it feels like a whole lot of love.”

“Thank you, Anna. For all the hugs, the kisses, the love. You have those memories in heaven and see them with perfect love. All is forgiven.”

“Until next time, my Daddy. Happy Birthday! I miss you. Keep showing up, okay?!

“Always with you. I love you, my daughter. “